Position Title: Head of Support Services
Supervised by: Country Director
Reported to by: Country Director
Duty Station: Yaoundé
Area of Operation: Cameroon
Employment Period: 24 months (commencing immediately)
Type of Contract: Expatriate or national contract
Salary & Benefits: E1 – comprehensive family package
- Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council is dedicated to aiding refugees and internally displaced individuals worldwide. We offer immediate assistance, advocate for their rights, and empower them for a better tomorrow. Operating in conflict zones, along migration routes, and in host countries, we collaborate with local communities to pursue responsible and sustainable solutions. Our aim is to facilitate successful integration and, whenever feasible, support the desire for repatriation.
Established in Denmark in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council has evolved into an international humanitarian organization with over 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and active in forty nations, we operate as a non-profit, politically impartial, non-governmental, and non-sectarian relief entity.
Our vision is to ensure a dignified existence for all displaced individuals. Guided by our core values of humanity, respect, independence, neutrality, participation, as well as honesty and transparency, all our endeavors are aligned towards this vision.
- Background
The West and Central Africa, North Africa, and Latin America (WANALA) region encompass 73 operational bases across three main zones spanning 12 countries: 43 in West Africa (formerly WARO), 11 in North Africa (formerly NARO), and 19 in the Americas.
Under the guidance of the Dakar regional office and in alignment with efforts in the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), DRC commenced operations in Cameroon in 2018, primarily aimed at addressing the humanitarian needs of refugees from CAR and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamaoua region. Presently, DRC maintains a regional office in Meiganga, along with two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamaoua region) and Garoua-Boulai (Eastern region). In late 2018, the Emergency Mobile Team (EMPACT) established DRC’s program presence in the Southwest region to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced individuals amidst the Anglophone crisis, initiating humanitarian endeavors in January 2019. The regional office for the southwest is located in Buea, with a sub-office in Kumba. Moreover, DRC commenced operations in the far north of Cameroon in October 2023 to address intercommunity conflicts, including agro-pastoral conflicts, among other issues.
Responsibilities and Tasks:
Reporting to the Country Director, the Head of Support Functions (HoSS) holds strategic and operational oversight over Finance, Human Resources, Logistics and Procurement, Administration, and Information Technology. They are responsible for supervising, developing, and setting strategic direction for these support areas.
As an integral member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), this position ensures comprehensive representation and consideration of all aspects of Country Office management in decision-making processes. With a primary focus on the country’s operations, the HoSS, as an SMT member, is required to regularly visit field offices to ensure regional support and capacity-building, foster a proficient understanding of the country’s systems and processes, and ensure compliance with donor requirements and adherence to DRC’s procedures and guidelines.
a) Team Management and Internal Communication
- Leading and Managing Support Managers:
- Oversee support managers, encompassing planning, performance evaluation, staff well-being, and professional growth.
- Support Operations Management:
- Supervise, execute, and document support activities across a designated geographical area.
- Establish and nurture high-performing support teams, prioritizing the maintenance of superior quality standards.
- Innovate and refine operational methodologies, ensuring adherence to compliance and system enhancements. Assist the Country Director in devising and executing effective and sustainable interventions.
- Strategic Development and Implementation:
- Assume responsibility for the strategic planning, execution, and oversight of support operations.
- Provide specialized technical assistance aligned with organizational goals.
- Engage actively in the formulation of annual strategies within operational responsibilities.
- Ensuring Program Compliance:
- Guarantee the adherence of DRC programs to internal protocols and procedures.
b) Operations Management
- Supporting Compliance and Liaison Efforts
- Assist the Country Director in engaging with donors and authorities, focusing on compliance, registration, and auditing matters.
- Strategic Leadership and Oversight
- Provide strategic direction and technical assistance to operational support units at the country/regional level.
- Conduct oversight, audits, and monitoring to ensure adherence to DRC operational standards and implement corrective measures as needed.
- Enhance DRC’s operational capacity, especially concerning supply chain and transportation systems.
- Efficiency Enhancement and Systems Development
- Develop and maintain tools to optimize the efficiency of mission support departments.
- Ensure fairness and compliance with legal and administrative systems, meeting internal, donor, and local government requirements.
- Risk Management and Capacity Building
- Create a country risk management plan to identify financial and operational risks and devise mitigation strategies.
- Strengthen support staff capacity through training sessions and personalized mentoring.
- Global Initiative Implementation
- Contribute to the development and execution of DRC’s global initiatives.
- Financial Oversight
- Supervise the master budget, key performance indicators (KPIs), and financial viability of the country operation.
c) DRC Dynamics ERP System
- Utilization and Analysis
- Ensure relevant personnel properly utilize ERP functionality.
- Analyze data from DRC Dynamics for performance enhancement.
- Country-Level ERP Referent
- Act as the country-level point of contact for ERP usage in support functionalities.
Deputy Responsibilities
- Assisting the Country Director:
- Aid the Country Director in aligning strategic programming with DRC’s operational platforms.
- Coordinate the development of DRC’s programs.
- Enhance program quality, standards, and learning initiatives.
- Ensure adherence to DRC’s accountability frameworks.
- Representation and Acting on Behalf:
- Represent DRC in engagements with authorities, UN agencies, humanitarian bodies, and other collaborative partners.
- Assume the responsibilities of the Country Director during their absence.
Lead Responsibilities
- Strategic Goal Achievement:
- Oversee the realization of DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the assigned scope of responsibility.
- Make substantial decisions regarding unit activities.
- Management and Decision-Making Authority:
- Manage the staff directly reporting to the position.
- Exercise decision-making authority in accordance with established policies, standards, and expert guidance provided to DRC.
Additionally, the Country Director may assign additional duties to the Head of Support Services beyond those mentioned above.
Required Qualifications
- Educational Background and Experience:
- Possess advanced degree(s) in finance, business administration, economics, logistics, or related fields.
- Accumulate a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in humanitarian support management, with at least four years in personnel management.
- Exhibit prior experience in a similar role within an international NGO.
- Skills and Expertise:
- Demonstrate proficient leadership and personnel management capabilities.
- Showcase significant experience in financial, informational, and systems management.
- Exhibit substantial expertise in procurement and tendering procedures.
- Illustrate experience and competency in operational management, particularly in conflict-affected areas.
- Possess a comprehension of and experience with institutional fundraising.
- Show familiarity with working in an ERP system, encompassing supply chain, finance, and human resources modules.
- Display excellent proficiency in both written and spoken French and English languages.
- Preferably have experience working in a Central and/or West African country.
5. Essential Skills & Attributes
- Core Competencies Expected by DRC:
- Aspiring for excellence
- Fostering collaboration
- Taking initiative
- Effective communication
- Upholding integrity
- Required Personal Qualities:
- Ability to thrive in a diverse, multinational environment.
- Demonstrated proactivity, fostering genuine teamwork and collaboration.
- Exceptional communication skills, coupled with patience and courtesy.
- Proficiency in multitasking and organizational abilities is indispensable.
- Adaptability and flexibility are crucial traits.
- Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking capabilities.
- Exemplary ethical conduct within the professional sphere.
- Team-oriented mindset with a good sense of humor.
6. General Guidelines
- Adherence to DRC Protocols:
- Compliance with DRC directives concerning safety, confidentiality, and ethical standards, including the Code of Conduct and Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
- Prohibition against engaging in any other remunerative activities during the DRC contract term without prior approval.
- Avoidance of any actions that could potentially jeopardize DRC’s interests or project implementation during the contract period.
- Restriction on providing media interviews or disseminating project-related materials without prior authorization.
- Obligation to return all borrowed project equipment to DRC upon contract termination or upon request.
- Application Procedure
Interested in the position? Apply online through the following link: https://job.drc.ngo/jobs/job?id=170508. Ensure to include a cover letter and an updated CV, each no longer than four pages.
DRC is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.
We welcome all applicants and maintain a fair recruitment process free from discrimination.
Please note that DRC cannot offer international employment contracts to citizens of the country of assignment (in this instance: Republic of Cameroon).
The application deadline is midnight (GMT-time) on March 25th, 2024.
Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Given the urgency of the position, DRC reserves the right to hire a suitable candidate who meets the required criteria before the stated deadline.
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